Webster 15-year-old Michael Pilato was arraigned today on an indictment handed down late last week by a Monroe County Grand Jury. Appearing in a loose-fitting navy sweatshirt and navy pants, and with his hands cuffed in front of him, Pilato appeared before Monroe County Court Judge John DeMarco for today's arraignment, which was scheduled for 11 a.m. and didn't actually happen until about 12:05 p.m.

Monroe County District Attorney-elect Sandra Doorley, who will be prosecuting the case, told the judge Michael Pilato is being charged as a juvenile offender.

Attorney Andre Vitale, from the Monroe County Public Defender's office, is representing Pilato. He said his client is pleading not-guilty on all counts of the indictment.

The teen is accused of starting the Dec. 7 fire, at his home on Cardile Drive in Webster, that killed his father, Carmen Pilato, and two brothers, Josh and Peter, and injured his mother, Elaine, and sister Elizabeth.

There did not appear to be any family members or friends in the courtroom today.

The indictment on which Michael Pilato was arraigned today includes nine counts: Three counts of second-degree murder; three counts of second-degree murder while committing another crime, two counts of attempted murder, and second-degree arson.

Vitale told Judge DeMarco today that he wouldn't yet be making a bail application for his client, who is being held with no bail and no release.

Doorley said Pilato is being held in the Westfall junvenile detention facility.

Judge DeMarco did set Michael Pilato's next appearance for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, in front of Monroe County Court Judge Vincent Dinolfo, who has been assigned the case.

"Now we'll proceed to trial," Doorley said outside the courtroom, after the about five-minute arraingment today.

She said she will now be filing a DVD of a police interview with Michael Pilato, but it may not be available to the media.

Also speaking to media outside the courtroom, Vitale said his client "is still a very confused young man," but that he no longer has worries for Michael's safety.

He did say the teen has been providing "background information," adding, "a lot is going to come out as this case goes on."

Vitale said he hasn't yet seen the police DVD, but the district attorney's office isn't required to turn it over until after the arraignment.

Asked if Michael Pilato had any support from his family, Vitale said it has been a "mixed bag ... support and anger."

He added that Michael does have "a large network of caring friends," though he acknowledged his client "was not the most popular person in the world."

Vitale said he has not only been attorney to Michael, but also counselor "and his eyes and ears to the outside." Since his friends can't get in to see him where Michael is being housed, Vitale said, he has been collecting information from the friends and providing it to his client.

Page 2 of 2 - "I want him to know it's not just me and him," Vitale said.

Vitale pledged that "every aspect of the case will be looked into," and added that he expects the case "will have to go to trial."

Since Michael Pilato is being charged as a juvenile offender, the maximum sentence, if convicted on all counts, will be 15 years to life, Vitale said, "and he won't be eligible for potential consecutive sentences."